Pappy Smith's Adventure Continues

Day 25 of my journey riding, Started out this morning temp around 45°. Good day of riding. Rode around 53mi. Made a couple of quick stops to take pictures stopped at an old gas station that was turned into a Old Packard Museum. Had alot of some old cars. Only put 1 picture out here. Rode to the town of Vinita Oklahoma. I here it has the world's largest McDonalds. I don't know if I will get a chance to see it. Set up for the night and doing some laundry. Slow day today just riding. Good day God Bless

Day 24 of riding The journey continues! The rain came and stayed for a couple days! Started out this morning around 11:30am. Got in around 33 miles. Rode out of Missouri into Kansas.  Spending the night in Baxter Springs. Cool and wet for most of the day. A couple of cool pictures today. I posted the business card of the campground here. What a great place to stay!! I hope everyone reads my Facebook post and emails the campground a big thank you! They are a very generous couple. From taking to lunch and solider who really was needing help. Bought him a bus ticket home brought us back to there home and fed us dinner. After dinner giving the solider spending money for his trip. Driving him to the bus station to get him home to his family. I guarantee I will be back to this campground in the future. Just give a shout out to MI Casa RV Campground Good night God Bless

Well pouring down rain. Have some severe weather coming thru. Plan on spending another night at this campground. The owners here have been great! Last night when I got in and set up brought me over a couple of brats for dinner . Told me I could sleep in the TV room on the couch if the weather got real bad! When they go into town later plan on riding with them to get something for dinner. They have a military guy here who they are really helping out. He just got out of the VA hospital and hiking back to his home in Neveda. I really feel for the guy. Has pancreatic cancer. Heading home to be with family and start treatment.  The couple here will be driving him to the bus station to get him home. I will keep him in my prayers. I've had 2 family members pass from pancreatic cancer. Please keep Shawn in your prayers he has done a few tours serving our country! Will post more later. Going to sit out the rain for now.  Nowhere to be or time limit so just sit and enjoy looking at t...

Day 23 of my journey riding, Woke up early and Heath coming out asking if I'm up. Brought me in a cup of coffee then his whole family came in to say good bye at 6am. What a great way to start my day. Heath and I meet Ryan at the waffle house for breakfast! Ryan before I forget tell Haley I'm sorry for not getting her name right last night! ! After breakfast Heath drove me out to Rt 66 to get my journey started. Kinda of bitter sweet. I really enjoyed my time with the family but also was glad to be back riding. Came across a couple from Holland today. They had come from California heading to Chicago on RT 66. They cover between 50- 60 miles a day and stay in hotels. Would be great if you could afford it. I got in 55 miles today. Staying on the west side of Carthage Mo. Not to far from the original Rt 66 out door drive in. About 12 miles to Joplin MO. Staying at a new Campground very nice. Calling for a lot of rain the next couple days. Hoping t...

Day 2 of not riding! Well today is my last day off for a while. Spent the day with the family. Helped do some yard work today. Had some R&R also. Went to dinner with Heath, Tabatha, Caleb and Jake. Ryan his wife Cookie and there daughter MacKenzie and friends of Ryan and Cookie. Ryan was over this morning with there other daughter Ashley.  I hope I got the names correct! Forgive if I didn't. What a great couple days spending with Barry's 2 boys and there family's that I just meet. Truly great people and family. To welcome someone in your home you have never meet and make them feel part of your family. Thank you. Heath,Cookie and MacKenzie Going to breakfast with the boys then heading towards Carthage Mo by Joplin tomorrow. The journey continues. Good night God Bless!

Today was my first day of not riding since I returned to Missouri. Got up and went to breakfast with Heath. After breakfast took my bike in fir a tune up. They measured my chain and it needed replaced. Bought a couple of cans of mace for my bike. Came back and washed and cleaned out Heaths suv. Heath is assistant fire cheif. Went to an award bang yet for Caleb at school. Caleb will be graduating this year. Looking to leave on Sunday morning. Going out to dinner with Heath and Ryan and there family's tomorrow! This has been a couple of nice days spending with family. Good night God Bless

Day 22 of my journey riding, Got up this morning and it was raining. The weather channel said it was going to clear out around 8 am. Went to McDonald's for breakfast. Came back and the rain had stopped. Started packing up everything. Got my bags loaded and put on my bike then took down my tent. All loaded and headed out. 25 mile ride today. Made it to Springfield around noon. Nephew Heath and son Caleb was home when I got there. Have not seen Heath in many years ! Meet Heath sons Caleb and Jake. Will meet his wife when she gets off work. Ryan and his wife will becoming over also for a cook out tonight! Looking forward to visiting with Barry's boy the next couple days! Will have pictures later. Thanks Dakota for the call! Well a great night with family. Sat around the fire with my drink of choice! Had a great dinner stuffed wild turkey breast wrapped in bacon on the grill! Wow very good! !! Thank you Heath, Tabitha and Ryan! Good night God Bless